Talent Visa — Direct Economic Investment

The Talent - Porteur de Projet (Investissement Économique Direct) is a multi-year residence permit enabling non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals to reside in Reunion and make a direct economic investment of at least €300,000 in fixed assets on French territory. Established under CESEDA Article L421-16(3°), the permit targets investors who create or commit to creating employment within four years. Reunion is a French overseas department where French immigration law applies in full, but it is not part of the Schengen Area. The card was renamed from "Passeport Talent" to "Talent - Porteur de Projet" by Décret n° 2025-539 du 13 juin 2025. A simplified French Tech Visa pathway is also available for venture capitalists and business angels.

• Non-EU/EEA/Swiss national
• Direct economic investment of at least €300,000 in tangible or intangible fixed assets on French territory
• Investment made personally or through a company the investor manages or in which they hold at least 30% of the capital
• Must create or preserve (or commit to creating/preserving) employment within 4 years
• Annual resources at least equal to the gross SMIC (€21,876/year as of January 2026)
• No specific educational or professional qualifications required
• Passport valid for at least 6 months
• Proof of accommodation in Reunion
• Criminal record extract from country of origin

Direct investments include share capital investments, reinvested earnings, and loans between affiliated companies. Purely financial investments such as passive portfolio holdings or stock market investments with no operational involvement are excluded. The investment can be made personally or through a company the investor manages or in which they hold at least 30% of the capital. The investment must begin execution within one year of card issuance, or the card may be withdrawn.

• Valid passport
• Proof of domicile in Reunion (less than 6 months old)
• e-photo code
• Documentation proving personal management of the investee company or 30% capital ownership
• Investment plan or business plan with employment projections and job creation commitments
• Bank statements proving investment funding
• Proof of annual resources at least equal to the SMIC
• Criminal record extract from country of origin (first application)
• Signed commitment to respect republican principles

The standard pathway involves applying for a long-stay visa from a French consulate abroad via the France-Visas portal, submitting proof of the investment project. Since Reunion is outside the Schengen Area, the visa must specifically cover Reunion or all French territories. Upon arrival, validate the visa online within 3 months via the ANEF platform and pay the €200 OFII tax and €25 stamp duty.

The French Tech Visa pathway offers a simplified procedure for venture capitalists and business angels: first apply through the Démarches Simplifiées platform for an acceptance letter from the Mission French Tech, then proceed with the standard visa/permit application.

For applicants already in Reunion, submit a status change application 4–2 months before the current permit expires via the ANEF portal. Processing takes approximately 2–3 months; the administration must respond within 90 days of a complete file submission.

The permit is valid for up to 4 years and is renewable. Apply for renewal 2–4 months before expiry via the ANEF portal. Continuing investors must document ongoing investment and employment creation. Completed investors must present new investment plans. Late applications incur a €180 surcharge.

Spouse and dependent minor children receive "talent-famille" residence permits for the same duration as the main card. Family members may engage in any paid employment in France. No separate family reunification procedure is required — family members can apply simultaneously or join later. Each family member pays €225 for the residence permit and €99 for the long-stay visa.

• Residence permit: €225 (€200 tax + €25 stamp duty)
• Long-stay visa from abroad: €99
• Total initial cost from abroad: €324
• Late renewal surcharge: €180

France taxes residents on worldwide income. Reunion residents benefit from a 30% income tax reduction (capped) for DOM residents under Article 197 I.3 of the Code Général des Impôts. Bilateral tax treaties may apply.

After 5 years of legal, uninterrupted residence (cumulative absences must not exceed 10 months), holders may apply for a 10-year carte de résident (resident card), which permits any professional activity.

• The card only authorizes commercial activity related to the specific investment project; salaried employment requires a separate permit
• The card is withdrawn if the investment has no beginning of execution within one year, or if funds originate from illicit activities
• Reunion is not part of the Schengen Area, so a Schengen visa is insufficient for entry
• Residence permits issued in Reunion are valid throughout all French territories where CESEDA applies
• Algerian nationals are subject to separate provisions under the French-Algerian Agreement of 1968 and cannot apply for the talent card
• The civic training component of the Integration Contract in Reunion includes a specific module on the history and geography of Reunion